The Labour Party candidate in the 2022 Presidential election and former governor of Anambra state, Peter obi in a post has questioned the knowledge of the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and vice president Kashim Shettima’s absentia from the country at a crucial time.
Obi opined that at the moment when Nigeria is experiencing financial and economic hardship should not be the time that the president and his Vice would leave the nest empty, pondering on when expiration of Tinubu’s 14-day leave stating, arguing that he could as well had gone to the summit in Sweden in place of V.P Shettima, which he acknowledged would have been cost effective for the country.
“While it is arguable that with the President and Vice President absent from the Villa , there is no vacancy in the Presidency, in a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country, as reported in the media yesterday, it’s concerning for a country with such myriads of domestic problems.
“The President had told us he would only be gone for 14 days, the 14 days have passed now, and we are waiting to see him in the country. One would have expected him to return earlier than expected, considering the volume of work that needs to be done in a troubled nation like ours. The untold hardship that has been unleashed on our people as a result of some of his administration’s policies is unimaginable and we need his urgent attention to pilot the nation out of this present situation.
“Again, since the President is reportedly in Paris, France, which is just about 833 nautical miles from Stockholm, Sweden, one wonders why he did not just attend the 2-day working visit to Sweden. He could simply have done it on his way back from France with his new powerful jet, which would have taken him a little over 2 hours. This would have saved time and the very scarce national resources we need critically at this time.
“Instead, he delegated the Vice President, who needed to travel 3055 nautical miles, over nine hours, and (about 4 times the travel time from Paris) Abuja, Nigeria, to Stockholm, Sweden, to represent him at the event. It would take about 4 times the time and distance it takes to travel from Paris to Stockholm to travel from Abuja to Stockholm.
“This does not represent the kind of fiscal responsibility and common sense that is expected of leaders whose people are facing severe hunger and poverty. This is the time to show true and committed leadership to the people by making decisions that prioritize the well-being of the people and effective management of the nation’s scarce resources in alleviating the sufferings of the people.
Recall that President Tinubu had on the 2nd of October departed Abuja for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation as part of his annual leave.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga had revealed that the president would use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.
However, in another development, President Tinubu departed the United Kingdom for Paris, France on 11th October.
The Special Assistant to the President on Political and other matters, Ibrahim Kabir Masari, via his verified X handle, @KabirIbrah64, said the President was expected to attend an important engagement.
Masari said that he had the honour of visiting President Tinubu at his private residence in the UK, where they engaged in productive discussions before departing for Paris.
”Today, I had the honour of visiting President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR at his private residence in the United Kingdom, where we engaged in productive discussions. We then departed for Paris, France, for another important engagement,” Masari had written.
Reacting to comments trailing the trip, Onanuga told Nigerians Friday night that the President is not restricted to the United Kingdom for his two-week leave.
Onanuga, via his verified X handle, said the President is free to go anywhere to observe his leave.
“President Tinubu is on leave for two weeks. He is not restricted to the UK. It is his private time. He can go to anywhere he so desires. He is still observing his leave,” he said.
In the same loop, the Vice President is currently at Stockholm, Sweden on a two-day working visit aimed at boosting trade and bilateral relations between both nations.